DHCP Features

DHCP (Dynamic Host Control Protocol) as well as being a method to administer the allocation of IP addresses can be used to dramatically reduce the chore of network administration. By using the 'vendor specific' tags almost any network parameters can be exported from a single DHCP server.

Up to 64 hosts may be supported using the DHCP server.

A total of 64 hosts may be supported by the embedded DHCP
server in either 'Auto-Allocation' mode or by using the DHCP MAP service. This
number allows the server (Air-Frame) to allocate the same IP address to the same host on each
request. This behavior is recommended in RFC 2131 and allows a 'known
configuration' after the initial address allocation thus internal servers (WINS,
FTP. WEB etc.) can be allocated by using DHCP rather than the normal hybrid process of
having some Fixed IPs and some DHCP allocated Hosts.

Auto-Allocation mode of operation.

When the DHCP server is first loaded it will
automatically allocate Host (PC) IP addresses on a
'first-come-first-serve' basis (after verifying the IP address is not already
in use). Alternatively some or all Hosts may configured using the DHCP MAP
feature and the DHCP server will auto-allocate the remaining IP addresses.

User may define the MAC to IP address mapping.

The user may define a DHCP MAP of the IP address to be
allocated to the corresponding Ethernet MAC address. This list may fully define
the network or may only be a partial list of those Hosts that require a Fixed
IP. all other requests for IP will be taken from the unused pool.

BOOTP relay agent behavior may be defined.

If the router is used in an environment where DHCP allocation
is made from a remote server then the router may be configured to operate in a
BOOTP mode. In this mode local requests for DHCP service are 'relayed' to the
defined DHCP host.

Permanent ‘Leases’ supported to minimize overheads.

When operating as a DHCP server the router will allocate
'unlimited' IP addresses leases. This minimizes the LAN and PC overheads involved
in DHCP services.

Extensive support for downloadable parameters.

The DHCP server, using a combination of standard and 'vendor specific' fields, can be defined to supply all the necessary information to allow hosts to configure themselves for the current network
e.g. IP address, net mask, WINS server, Default Gateway and DNS services. In addition other fields, such as bandwidth management parameters, can be downloaded through DHCP.

Auto-address mode to minimize configuration when used with Thin Proxy (SuperNAT).

When configuring a DHCP server in conjunction with a Thin Proxy (SuperNAT) the router will optionally default to an address range of 192.168.0.0 to 192.168.0.64. The user
has no need under these circumstances to even know about IP addresses. These
addresses are part of the approved address range reserved by IANA for the use of Private
Internets (RFC 1918). The user can override this address range by defining any
other desired range.